Technical Resources for Recreation Planning

Technical Resources for Recreation and Trail Planning

This webpage includes links to resources developed by OPRD or external organizations. Land managers and their partners are encouraged to explore these resources for funding opportunities, design and planning guidelines, accessibility standards and best practices, maintenance and management resources, resources for stewardship partnerships, and more.

This page is under development. More resources coming soon!

OPRD is responsible for two statewide planning documents that can be useful to recreation providers for a variety of purposes. These documents include data on statewide recreation trends, demographic and geographic trends, strategic actions for recreation providers, grant scoring criteria, and more.

Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP)

Statewide Trails Plan

OPRD Grant Programs:

Local Government Grant Program: a program for public outdoor recreation projects on land owned by local governments
Land and Water Conservation Fund: a federal grant program for public outdoor recreation projects on local, state, and tribal lands
Recreational Trails Program: a federal grant program for trail projects on public land
ATV Grant Program: a program for ATV trail-related projects and operations on public land
County Opportunity Grant Program: a program for projects at county owned campgrounds
Heritage Grant Programs: programs administered by OPRD’s Heritage Division, some of which could relate to parks and recreation

Other Government Grant Programs:

Federal Lands Access Program (FHWA)
Oregon Community Paths (ODOT)
Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund (ODFW)
Oregon State Marine Board Grants (OSMB)
Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB)
Regional Destination Management Organizations (RDMOs, funding opportunities vary)
Regional Flexible Funds (Metro)
Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program (National Parks Service)
Travel Oregon Grants

Foundations, Private, or Industry Funding Resources:
The following entities may have funding resources available for recreation related projects or initiatives. Refer to the links below for more information.

OPRD Accessibility Standards

2023 Accessibility Design Standards
ADA Quick Reference Guides
General
Parking Areas
Restrooms
Camping

Other Accessibility Design Resources:

Inclusion & Reducing Barriers to the Outdoors

Equitable and Inclusive Trails (Rails to Trails Conservancy)
National Recreation and Park Association Resources
Engaging Diverse Groups in Building Community Resiliency Through Stewardship
Inclusive Healthy Places Companion Guide
Planning for Inclusion with Parks for Inclusion (video)
Hiker Leader Handbook (People of Color Outdoors)

For additional resources, refer to the Accessibility section above.

Trail Funding & Policy

Recreational Trails Funding Sources: use this tool to identify potential funding sources based on type of trail (non-motorized, motorizd, water) and project phase (e.g. planning, development)
Evaluation of Potential Alternative Non-Motorized Trail Funding Sources (2018 SCORP white paper)
USFS National Strategy for a Sustainable Trails System
2026 Oregon Recreational Trails Plan

Trail Planning & Design Guides

Ready, Set, Plan?! Trail Planning Made Clear (Oregon Trails Coalition, introductory guide to trail planning)
American Trails Resource Library
Great Trails Guidebook (NOHVCC, off-highway vehicle trail focused guidelines)
Guidelines for a Quality Trail Experience (BLM, mountain bike focused guidelines)
Managing Mountain Biking: IMBA’s Guide to Providing Great Riding (IMBA, mountain bike focused guidelines)
National Park Service Resources and Publications (NPS, general planning resources)
PCTA Trails Skills College Basic Trails Design Curriculum (PCTA, basic trail design)
Trails Handbook: Planning, Design, Construction, Maintenance (CA State Parks, nonmotorized trail guidance)
Trail Solutions: IMBA’s Guide to Building Sweet Single Track (IMBA, mountain bike focused guidelines)
USFS Standard Trail Plans and Specifications
Design Guidelines for Recreational Boating Facilities (OSMB)

Trail Maintenance & Stewardship

Trails Partnerships: A Guide to Asking the Right Questions (Oregon Trails Coalition)
USFS Trail Maintenance and Construction Notebook
USFS Trail Management Toolbox
Find a Corps tool (The Corps Network)

Information & Signage

Access Recreation Guidelines for Providing Trail Information to People with Disabilities

Example websites applying the guidelines:
Tucson Access Trails
Tualatin River Wildlife Refuge
Trail Access Information (Beneficial Designs)
Intertwine Regional Trail Signage Guidelines (Metro, regional trail signage guidelines)
OPRD Sign Manual (update in progress)

Electric Mobility & E-Bikes

E-Bike Research and Case Studies (FHWA)
E-Bike Resources for Land Managers Guide (People for Bikes)
OPRD e-bike rulemaking
Class I e-bike community conversations findings report (Deschutes Trails Coalition)

Safety, Education and Etiquette

Trail etiquette sign templates (City of Eugene & Intertwine)
Share the Trail campaign materials (Oregon Equestrian Trails)
Tread Lightly! (motorized trail safety and education)

Balancing Conservation & Recreation

Trails as resilient infrastructure guidebook and webinar (FHWA and Oregon Trails Coalition)
Recreation Ecology Literature Review (Metro)
Sustaining wildlife with recreation on public lands synthesis (USDA)
Allocating recreation with fairness at the forefront: A research-based planning and management guidebook (USFS)
Using wildlife fright distance to inform trail planning guidebook (forthcoming 2026)

Have an idea or a resource to add? Contact:

Jodi Bellefeuille
725 Summer St. NE Suite C
Salem, OR 97301
503-856-6316